Trampoline

ABSTRACT

An improved trampoline consists of an air mattress equipped with a first inflation valve having a first fastening section attached to an inner peripheral rim and a jumping pad mounted to the inner periphery of the air mattress having a second fastening section attached to an outer peripheral rim thereof to couple with the first fastening section through a fastening element. The air mattress has a plurality of guarding struts mounted thereon to surround the jumping pad to form a jumping space. The air mattress is filled with air pressure to allow the jumping pad generating resilient force for people to jump in the jumping space up and down for exercise.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved trampoline andparticularly a trampoline that uses an air mattress filled with airpressure to allow a jumping pad generating resilient force and resultsin light weight, great portability, easy storing and having protectiveeffect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] To improve conventional trampolines for guarding people fromfalling out of the jumping bed of the trampoline, applicant has filed anU.S. patent application by application Ser. No. 09/547,851 on Apr. 12,2000. In that application, a guarding means is provided and mounted tothe frame through fastening elements (as shown in FIG. 1). The guardingmeans and the jumping pad surrounded by the frame form a jumping space.People can jump in the jumping space without falling out and areprotected from injury that might otherwise incur. While it can greatlyreduce the risks of using the trampolines, practical experiencesindicate that there are still rooms for improvement, notably:

[0003] 1. The frame of the trampoline is made of metallic material anddoes not have resilience. The jumping pad mounted to the frame generatesresilient force by means of extension springs fastened between thejumping pad and the frame. While the guarding means can prevent peoplefrom falling out of the trampoline, people, especially children or girlsof relatively small bodies, could fall and trap in the gaps between thesprings inside the jumping space. Moreover, the extended springs havegaps between the spring rings and could also hurt people when hitincidentally.

[0004] 2. The jumping pad is fastened to the frame by means of extensionsprings forcefully. Hence the jumping pad is difficult to detach orremove from the frame. The frame cannot be folded and occupies arelatively large space. It takes too much storage space and cannot becarried outdoors for recreational use. All this severely limits itsusefulness and value.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The primary object of the invention is to resolve the foregoingdisadvantages. The invention aims to provide an improved trampoline thatis safer and easier to carry and use. The trampoline of the inventionconsists of an air mattress equipped with an inflation valve and ajumping pad fastened to the inner periphery of the air mattress. Theinner peripheral rim of the air mattress and outer peripheral rim of thejumping pad have respectively fastening sections coupled by a fasteningelement. On the air mattress, a plurality of guarding struts are mountedthereon to form a jumping space with the jumping pad. The air mattressis filled with air pressure to allow the jumping pad generatingresilient force. Thus people can jump in the jumping space up and downfor exercise.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality ofanchor elements on the air mattress for hanging balance weights so thatthe trampoline can be floated on water surface in a balanced mannerthereby to make the trampoline usable on land and water.

[0007] The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features andadvantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description, which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional trampolinedisclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/547,851.

[0009]FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the invention.

[0010]FIG. 2B is a fragmentary enlarged view of the invention accordingFIG. 2A.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic view of the invention, showingthe air mattress coupling with the jumping pad.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3, the trampoline 1 of theinvention includes an air mattress 11 equipped with a first inflationvalve 114 and a jumping pad 12 mounted to the inner periphery of the airmattress 11. The inner peripheral rim of the air mattress 11 and theouter peripheral rim of the jumping pad 12 have respectively a firstfastening section 111 and a second fastening section 121 matching eachother. The fastening sections 111 and 121 may be coupled togetheralternately in a staggered fashion through a fastening element 3 whichmay be a rope. On the air mattress 11, there are a plurality of guardingstruts 13 mounted thereon to surround the jumping pad 12 to form ajumping space 10, and there is further an annular upper air pad 16mounted to the top ends of the guarding struts 13. The air mattress 11is filled with air pressure to allow the jumping pad 12 generatingresilient force, thus people can jump in the jumping space 10 up anddown for exercise.

[0014] Each guarding strut 13 has a second inflation valve 131. Atransverse air pad beam 14 is bridged two neighboring guarding struts 13to provide supplementary protection. Furthermore, there is a guardingmesh 15 attached to the inner side of the guarding struts 13 to provideadditional protection for people. The guarding mesh 15 has a pad 17 toform an opening 173 to allow people to enter or exit the jumping space10. The pad 17 and guarding mesh 15 have respectively fasten elements151, 171, 152 and 172 matching and engageable with each other. Thefasten elements 151, 171, 152 and 172 may be Velcro strips and a snaplatch and buckle set.

[0015] When in use, inflate the air mattress 11, guarding struts 13, airpad beams 14, and upper air pad 16 through the first inflation valve 114and second inflation valves 131. The air mattress 11, guarding struts13, air pad beams 14 and annular upper air pad 16 are welded together bya hypersonic means. Air pressure keeps the air mattress 11, guardingstruts 13, air pad beams 14 and annular upper air pad 16 together. Theair mattress 11 further has handles 112 to facilitate carrying of thetrampoline 1 by people with hands. People may enter into the jumpingspace 10 through the opening 173 and jump on the jumping pad 12 forexercise. The jumping pad 12 has resilient force resulting from the airpressure filled inside the air mattress 11. The fastening section 112and 121 are closely coupled without gaps formed therebetween, and theguarding struts 13, air pad beams 14 and guarding mesh 15 offeradditional protection, hence people jumping in the jumping space 10 willbe guarded from falling out of the trampoline 1 and have fullprotection. Furthermore, the air mattress 11, guarding struts 13, airpad beams 14 and upper air pad 16 are made of non-metallic materials,injury resulting from hitting can be minimized. Moreover, air in the airmattress 11, guarding struts 13, pad beams 14 and upper air pad 16 maybe discharged through the inflation valves 114 and 131 to greatly reducethe size of the trampoline 1 when not in use. As the trampoline 1 may bemade of soft and foldable materials, it can be folded to become acompact size to facilitate carrying and storing, and may be convenientlyused in various outdoor activities.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 4, the air mattress 11 may further has anchorrings 113 mounted thereon to hang balance weights (such as anchors)through ropes 2, thereby the trampoline 1 may be floated on watersurface in a balanced manner. Thus the trampoline 1 can be used on landand water, and further increase its usefulness and value.

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved trampoline, comprising: an airmattress equipped with a first inflation valve having a first fasteningsection attached to an inner peripheral rim thereof; a jumping padmounted to an inner periphery of the air mattress having a secondfastening section attached to an outer peripheral rim thereof to couplewith the first fastening section through a fastening element; and aplurality of guarding struts mounting to the air mattress andsurrounding the jumping pad to form a jumping space; wherein the airmattress is filled with air pressure to allow the jumping pad generatingresilient force for people to jump in the jumping space up and down forexercise.
 2. The improved trampoline of claim 1, wherein the guardingstruts have respectively a second inflation valve.
 3. The improvedtrampoline of claim 1 further having a transverse air pad beam bridgedevery two neighboring guarding struts.
 4. The improved trampoline ofclaim 1 further having a guarding mesh attached to an inner side of theguarding struts.
 5. The improved trampoline of claim 4, wherein theguarding mesh has a pad to form an opening for people to enter thejumping space, the pad having first fastening elements matching andengageable with second fastening elements located on the guarding mesh.6. The improved trampoline of claim 1, wherein the air mattress hashandles mounted thereon for people to carry the trampoline with hands.7. The improved trampoline of claim 1, wherein the air mattress hasanchor rings mounted thereon to hang balance weights for the trampolinefloating on water surface in a balanced manner.
 8. The improvedtrampoline of claim 1 further having an annular upper air pad mounted tothe top ends of the guarding struts.